Signs your dog's mouth needs a vet visit (and what home care is for)

Dogs do not stop eating because a tooth hurts; most of them eat around it. That is why mouth problems are so often found late, at a routine vet check, when the owner is surprised. Knowing what to look for, and being honest about what home care can and cannot do, is the way to find things early.

First, the line between home care and the vet

Home care, which means daily brushing with a pet toothpaste, supervised chewing and a weekly look, is for keeping a healthy mouth clean. It disrupts soft plaque before it hardens. It cannot shift tartar that has already set, repair a tooth, or do anything about sore gums, and Petdentist® products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition. Anything in the list below is a job for your vet first; home care then keeps the clean mouth clean.

What you can see

• Gums that are red, swollen or bleed when touched or brushed, or that have pulled back so more of a tooth shows.
• A brown or yellow crust on the teeth, especially the upper back teeth, that does not brush off.
• A chipped, cracked, loose, discoloured or worn-flat tooth.
• A lump, bump or ulcer on the gum, lip or tongue.
• Swelling of the face, particularly under one eye.
• A baby tooth still present next to its adult replacement in a puppy over seven months.

What you can smell

Breath that is bad every day, or that has changed in character, is the most common early sign owners notice. Mild doggy breath is normal; a persistent smell is a reason to look, and if daily brushing does not change it within a few weeks, a reason to book.

What your dog does instead of telling you

• Drops kibble, chews on one side, or tilts the head while eating.
• Goes off hard food or treats but still wants soft food.
• Drools more than usual, sometimes with a trace of blood.
• Paws at the mouth or rubs the face along the carpet or furniture.
• Flinches, growls or pulls away when you touch the muzzle.
• Stops carrying toys, or plays tug less enthusiastically.
• Is quieter, sleeps more or seems irritable without an obvious reason.

None of these proves a mouth problem, and several have other causes. All of them are worth a vet's opinion.

What happens at the vet

Your vet will look at the teeth and gums, feel for pain and swelling, and may suggest a check under anaesthetic with X-rays, because most of a dog's tooth is below the gum where nobody can see it. A professional clean under anaesthetic, which is the only way to clear set tartar from below the gum line, is a routine procedure. Ask what the plan is for keeping the mouth clean afterwards; that is where home brushing comes in.

After the vet: starting the home routine

A freshly cleaned mouth is the best possible starting point. Once your vet says it is comfortable, begin with Petsmile toothpaste on your fingertip for a few days, move to a soft brush, and build to a daily brush of the outer surfaces. Choose the bamboo brush for a small dog or the large breed brush for a big one, and keep up a weekly look so you notice change early next time. The FAQ has the day-by-day steps.

A simple rule

Brush daily, look weekly, see your vet yearly, and sooner if anything on this page applies. Early is cheaper, kinder and far easier to put right.

Questions people ask

How often should a dog see the vet for its teeth?

Most vets include a mouth check in the annual health check. Dogs with a history of dental work, small breeds and older dogs may be asked to come more often.

Can brushing make bleeding gums worse?

Gums that bleed when brushed are a sign to see your vet, not to brush harder. Once your vet has checked the mouth, gentle daily brushing is usually part of keeping it comfortable.

Will a dental chew or water additive fix tartar?

No product you can buy without a vet shifts tartar that has hardened. Those products, and ours, are for everyday care of a mouth that is already healthy.

Read next: How to check your dog's teeth at home, Bad breath in dogs: what it means, 5 common dental problems in dogs.

About the author. Dr Deepak Songra BDS (GDC 68552) is a dental surgeon with more than 35 years in clinical practice and the founder of Petdentist®. He is not a vet. He lives with Merlo, the Cavapoo you will see across this site.

This article is general information about daily care, not veterinary advice. Petdentist® products are non-medicinal daily-care products for dogs and cats and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are worried about your pet, please see your vet. Petdentist® is the trading name of Pet Dentist L.L.C-FZ, Meydan Grandstand, 6th Floor, Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, UAE. UK orders are dispatched from Northampton.